Dr. Kendall is the past Chair of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (2016-2017).  During his career he has held senior positions with the Canadian Space Agency including as the Director General of Space Science and Space Science and Technology. He is also a faculty member of the International Space University based in Strasbourg, France and a founding member of the Outer Space Institute.   He holds an undergraduate degree in physics from the University of Swansea, UK, and masters and doctoral degrees from the University of Calgary in atmospheric physics.